Senator Jim Dotson was elected to the Senate in 2022 and was sworn on January 9, 2023. He represents District 34, which includes parts of cities of Bella Vista, Bentonville, Centerton and Hiwasse in Benton County.
Senator Dotson is co-chair of the Joint Retirement and Social Security Committee and Senate vice chair of the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee. He is a member of the Senate Education Committee, the Senate State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee and the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee. Also, Senator Dotson is a member of the Legislative Facilities Committee.
During the 94th General Assembly, Senator Dotson sponsored legislation that created Holocaust Education Week for Arkansas public schools. He sponsored education legislation concerning career and technical education and student free speech rights at state colleges and universities. Senator Dotson also sponsored legislation for a citizen to vote absentee because of a religious observance.
In past sessions Senator Dotson sponsored a bill that authorizes additional reimbursement for telemedicine providers, a bill to establish Simon’s Law and a bill to create the Every Mom Matters Act.
Senator Dotson served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 2013 through 2022. While in the House, he served as chair and vice co-chair of the Arkansas Legislative Council (ALC), was a member of the House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee, the House Education Committee and the Joint Committee on Advanced Communications and Information Technology. Before serving in the House, Senator Dotson served two terms on the Bentonville City Council.
Senator Dotson lives in Bentonville with his wife, Jennifer. They have three children and attend Ignite Church of Rogers. Senator Dotson is a homebuilder and a realtor with Gibson Real Estate.
